Venture Catalysts Raises ₹150 Crore Fueling India’s Startup Engine

On September 8, 2025 , Venture Catalysts , Mumbai-based multi-stage investing platform, announced it raised ₹150 crore (~$18 million) through a balanced mix of primary and secondary share transactions The Economic Times . This funding will be used to strengthen leadership teams, launch new funds, and deploy AI-enabled tools for due diligence and limited-partner reporting

Journey from 2016 Launch to Multi-Fund Growth

Founded in 2016 , Venture Catalysts has built itself into a powerhouse of early-stage investing in India. The platform operates via:

• Deal-by-deal syndication through angel Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
• Category II AIFs managed in partnership with fund managers and institutional anchors Entrackr

To date, the firm manages over $500 million across various funds, deploying roughly $200 million through syndication within nine years

Portfolio Highlights — Startups Fuelled by Venture Catalysts

Venture Catalysts has backed over 400 startups , including rising stars and established names across sectors. Key examples:

• BharatPe – Fintech unicorn powerhouse
• InsuranceDekho – Insurance comparison platform
• Renee Cosmetics – Beauty-ecommerce success
• Wiom , Zypp Electric , Kissan Konnect – Covering domains from mobility to agri-tech Entrackr

Additionally, they manage AIF portfolios like:

• Beams Fintech Fund
• Elev8 Venture Partners
• Spyre PropTech Venture Fund Entrackr

Notable investments include:

• Seven – Contactless smart payment ring startup. Venture Catalysts led a ₹4 crore Pre-Series A round; their aim is to scale production of India’s first UPI-powered wearable and roll out an affordable variant by FY26; they target 3 million rings by 2028 CIOL .
• Garuda Aerospace – Drone manufacturing firm backed by MS Dhoni. Raised ₹100 crore in Series B from Venture Catalysts to enhance R&D, manufacturing, and defense drone capabilities; valued at $250 million B

Since its founding in 2016 , Venture Catalysts has grown into a leading early-stage investor, with a diversified portfolio and deep ecosystem partnerships. The fresh ₹150 crore raise is not just capital—it’s a strategic leap: scaling operations, pushing frontier verticals, and amplifying Bharat’s reach in global innovation.